Essex · London and the South East
Kelvedon Hatch Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Kelvedon Hatch. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Surveys for landlords and agents in Kelvedon Hatch
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kelvedon Hatch
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. Typical surveys look at sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and worn or lifted lead flashings, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and chimney stacks.
Being in a small place like Kelvedon Hatch makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Kelvedon Hatch (CM15, CM14)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Kelvedon Hatch
Do you cover smaller places like Kelvedon Hatch?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Kelvedon Hatch?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
How do I book a survey in Kelvedon Hatch?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Why get it checked now?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Kelvedon Hatch
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Photos and a written report every time
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% customer satisfaction
Places near Kelvedon Hatch
Also in Kelvedon Hatch
Common roof problems in Kelvedon Hatch
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Look out for signs like these:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you live in an older home near New Church of St Nicholas, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older rural homes like those around Kelvedon Hatch can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Buying a home or a new roof in Kelvedon Hatch
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. The wider area around Kelvedon Hatch has a long history of building, with Ingatestone Hall about 5 miles east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Shenfield station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Kelvedon Hatch is about 3 miles north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. Kelvedon Hatch is one of many places we visit across Essex, for homes and businesses alike. Kelvedon Hatch is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CM15 and CM14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include Church Road, Swan Lane and The Finchingfields, all of which we cover. Other places close to Kelvedon Hatch include Doddinghurst Common (1 mile south), Navestock Side (1 mile south-west), Bentley (1 mile south), Hook End (1 mile north-east) and Stondon Massey (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Chelmsford (10 miles north-east), Basildon (10 miles south-east), Harlow (10 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles south-east), Billericay (7 miles east) and Rayleigh (15 miles east).
Around Kelvedon Hatch
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Shepherd Public House, among other places. Kelvedon Hatch’s nearest station is Shenfield station, roughly 3.4 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Brentwood Community Hospital (3.3 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Thorndon Park.
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.